Crawl drophead for drain cleaners



June 8, 1948. s w, c soN 2,443,130

CRAWL DROPHEAD FOR DRAIN CLEANERS Filed March 22, 1946 INVENTOR. SIDNEY vv IERICKSON ATTD RNEYS Patented June 8, 1948 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE 1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to a crawl drophead for drain cleaners and more particularly to the drain cleaner employing the long loosely coiled wire cable which is adapted to be inserted into and through the drains for the cleaning and removal of obstructions therefrom.

An object of the invention is to provide a device which will by its peculiar structure crawl over joints and burrs in the pipe.

Another object of the invention is to provide a flexible coupling for the cleaner and the cable connected thereto, thereby permitting the head to drop down and enter the drain pipe should the cleaner be inserted into the trap.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of the novel details of construction, arrangement and combination of parts more fully hereinafter described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational View of an embodiment of the invention in a drain pipe shown in section;

Figure 2 is an elevational view showing the device crawling over a joint in the pipe.

Figure 3 shows the device being cleaned in the joint in the pipe.

Figure 4 is a sectional View on the line 44 of Figure 5.

Figure 5 is a sectional view on the line 55 of Figure 4 and Figure 6 is a view of the forward end of the cleaner head.

Referring more in detail to the drawing the reference numeral l0 designates the head of the drain cleaner which is circular in cross section having the bifurcated end l2 'in which is pivotally mounted by a pivot pin [4 the crawler IS. The crawler comprises a flat piece of metal which is substantially rhomboidal in shape having the inclined or oblique angled ends l8. Thus when the lower end encounters the pipe joint 20 as shown in Figure 1 it will crawl over the joint as shown in Figures 2 and 3.

The rear end of the head has a seat 22 therein to receive the eye 24 which is secured to the head by solder or welding 26. A second eye 23 engages eye 24 and is received in the seat 30 in the coupling 32 for the flexible coiled cable 34. The eye 28 is likewise secured in the coupling 32 by solder or welding 26. Extending transversely of the head at right angles to the seats 22 and 30 are slots 36 which formed in the head and coupling permit the oppositely related eyes to enter therein to permit greater flexibility between the head and the coupling.

In using the cleaner it is fed into a pipe or drain to be cleaned. When the head end of the cleaner encounters a joint or burr in the pipe the crawler pivots as shown in Figure 2 permitting the head end to crawl over the obstruction so that the cleaner may pass forward into the drain. It will be noted that the flexibility of the connecting eyes of the head and coupling permit the head to assume an angular relation with the coupling up to and including a forty five degree angularity thereby permitting the head to pass bends or to drop into a drain should the cleaner be inserted through the trap.

It is believed that the foregoing description when taken in conjunction with the drawings will clearly set forth the operation and construction of the invention and it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction, arrangement and combination of parts may be resorted to provided they fall within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

A device of the character described, comprising a foreshortened cylindrical body, having a bifurcated forward end which extends rearwardly from the foremost end of the body for more than half the length of the body, a pivot bridging the bifurcated end adjacent the foremost end of the body, a rhomboidal shaped member mounted on said pivot for rotary movement within said bifurcated end, said member adapted to project forwardly of the foremost end of said body for approximately one-half the length of said mem her, a socket in the opposite end of said body, an eye coupling receivable in said socket and fixed to said body, a second eye coupling eng agable in said first eye coupling, a second member similar in shape to said body and approximately half the length of said body, a socket in the forward end of said body to to receive said second coupling, whereby said second coupling is fixed to said second member and a flexible cable secured to the opposite end of said second member.

SIDNEY W. ERICKSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 65,715 Wright June 1 1, 1867 425,593 Butman Apr. 15, 1890 Re. 12,355 Adams June 13, 1905 916,654 Barwis Mar. 30', 1909 1,963,561 Sanger June 19, 1934 2,057,842 Nielsen Oct. 20, 1936 

